Collapsible tube closure



MarCh 14, l933. M. B. ROBINSON COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE Filed April l1, 1932 n v ent or /W/ILCOLMQUQE/V/E//VJOM Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MALCOLM BOUDEN ROBINSON, 0F WOODBRIDGECON'N'EUIIGUT COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE Application led April 11,

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tube closures.

One of the features of the invention resides in a closure device for the discharge end of a collapsible tube which automatically opens when the body of the same is squeezed to apply pressure to the contents thereof and which automatically closes when the pressure thereon is released so that the tube content is maintained in a fresh and sanitary condition at all times during use.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an automatic closure device which is used in conjunction with the externally screw threaded neckof a collapsible tube to which a screw cap is connected, the same serving to prevent damage to the automatic closure and operation of the same during shipment and which is removed and disposed of by the user after the initial opening of the tube.

A further object is the provision of a closure device of the above mentioned kind which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and positive of operation.

With these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are here'- inater fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in 'the accompanying drawing, in

' which characters, the numeral 10 designates a tube container comprising a collapsible tube body 11 provided with an externally screw threaded neck 12 at the discharge end thereof, and which is provided with a square discharge 1932. Serial N0. 604,548.

orifice 13. Extending from the neck 12 is a spout 14 which when looking endwise at the discharge end of thetube appears U-shaped and includes what I term an extending bottom wall 15 and segmental shapedilat side 55 walls 16. I term the wall 15 a bottom wall in View of the fact that the same constitutes the .bottom wall when the tube is held substantially horizontal as shown in Figure l when dispensing the contents therefrom.

Mounted within the square shaped discharge orifice 13 is a. closure device 17, the same including spaced segmental shaped side walls 18 which are disposed against two opposed walls of the orifice 13. Bridging the 05 segmental shaped walls 18 in an end wall'19, the exterior face of which is curved as at 20 on an arc struck from the axis of the pivot pintle 21 which extends outwardly from the segmental side walls 18, and have their bearings in two of the opposed walls of the discharge orifice 13. The inner face of the end wall 17 is flat as at 22, and when the closure device is in closed position, the said face is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the discharge orifice 13. One edge of the end wall 17 is adapted to rest upon the extended bottom wall l5 when the closure device is in closed position while the opposite edge is enlarged to provide a seat 23 80 for the free end of a flat bowed spring 24,*the opposite end of the said spring being lixedly secured to one of the walls of the discharge orifice as at 25. It will thus be seen that the spring 24 tends to normally maintain the clo- 85 sure member in closed position to seal the contents of the collapsible tube when the tube is not in use. -Assume that it is desired to dispense a quantity of the contents of the collapsible tube, the user applies a pressure to the tu e body 11, thus causing a pressure to be exerted against the -inclined face 22 of the closure device 17, which pressure is suicient to swing the closure device about its pivot 21 to an open position as shown in Figure-1 of the drawing, the said pressure being sutlcient to overcome the action of the spring 24. The contents of the tube which may be tooth paste, shaving cream or other paste like sub stances will be discharged in a dat condition 10 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Just as soon as the pressure exerted by the user upon the tube body 11 is released, the pressure against the closure device is reduced, thus permitting the spring 24 to automatically move the closure device to lclosed position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. By reason of the fact that the edge of the end wall 19 abutting the bottom wall 15 engages the same with the extreme end thereof, the paste may be thoroughly wiped from the discharge end of the tube after a dispensing operation to maintain the'same in a clean and sanitary condition.

With the construction hereinbefore set forth, I emplo a screw cap 26 which threadedly engages t e threaded neck 12 of the collapsible tube and which serves to protect the closure device during shipment and handling before reaching the' consumer. fter removing the screw cap 26 for the initial use of the contents of the tube, the same may be dispensed with as the closure device 17 will automatically keep the discharge end of the tube in closed position to maintain the contents in a fresh and sanitary condition.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that various chan es that come within the scope of the appen ed claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a collapsible tube having a discharge orice, a closure member ivotally mounted within said discharge orice, the inner face of the end wall of said closure member being iat while the outer face of the same is curved on anarc struck from the axis of its pivot, the radius of the curved face being equal to the width of the orifice and a spring acting upon said closure member to hold the same in sealing engagement with the walls of said discharge orifice with the flat face disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said discharge orifice.

'2. n combination with a collapsible tube having a discharge cross section, a closure member mounted within said discharge orifice including spaced parallel side walls and a connecting 4end wall, said side walls being pivotally connecked to opposed walls of said discharge orifice, the end wall having a at inner face and a convex outer face, and a spring acting a inst said closure member to cause one edge o the end wall to sealingly engage one wall of said discharge orifice with the inner iat face disposed at an acute anole with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidD discharge orifice.

3. In combination with a collapsible tube having a discharge orifice of square shape in cross section, a segmental shaped closure member pivoted within said discharge orifice having a lat inwardly inclined pressure face against which a pressure is adapted to be built up by squeezing the tube contents t0 swing said closure member to an open position, and spring means acting upon said clo sure member to hold the same in normally closed position.

4. In combination with a collapsible tube having a discharge orifice, a closure member mounted within said discharge orifice including spaced parallel side walls and a connecting end wall, said side walls bein pivotally connected to opposite walls o said discharge orifice, and a spring acting against said closure member to cause one edge of the end wall to sealingly engage one wall of said discharge orifice with the inner face of the end wall disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said orifice.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

MALCOLM BOUDEN ROBINSON.

orice which is square 1n p 

